We spoke with Denny Yunk at the Hayes group this morning about everything from wheels to bars to brakes. Here’s a short video clip with Denny talking about the new Black Flag and Charger wheelsets. We’ll try to upload more video throughout the day - stay tuned!

29er mountain bikes are more popular than ever these days but there still aren’t a lot of choices when it comes to components, especially wheels. Fortunately Easton offers 29-inch versions of two of its most popular wheel sets - the XC One and XC Tw0 - and I recently got a chance to try out the former on my Redline d660. The Easton XC One wheels are “designed to inspire the most demanding XC rider,” a claim I definitely needed to verify for myself

If you’ve been following the 29er debate over the past year or two you know one of the big disadvantages of 29er wheels is their weight, specifically when it comes to the rotational energy required to get things rolling. The XC One wheel set weighs in at just 1720 grams for the pair which is 170 grams lighter than the 26″ XC Twos (and only 135 grams heavier than the 26″ XC Ones!). I knocked off nearly a pound (425 grams) replacing the wheels that came with my bike and noticed quicker acceleration and faster climbing right away. I still haven’t found a major MTB wheel company offering a lighter stock wheel set than the Easton XC One 29ers.

By default 29er wheels face another disadvantage in the strength and stiffness department. Because the wheel radius is larger (14.5″ vs. 13″ for standard MTB wheels) spokes are 11.5% longer and are more prone to bending and flexing along their length (believe me, I already destroyed one set of 29er wheels in pretty a minor crash). Wheel manufacturers usually compensate by making the spokes stronger (read: heavier) or adding more spokes (also adding weight) but somehow Easton has avoided both. The 29er XC One wheels use just 24 double butted, cold forged Sapim spokes which are lightweight and high strength. The upshot? Easton XC One 29er wheels are up to 36% stiffer than the competition while remaining 10% lighter.

The Easton XC One 29er wheels use the same high tech hubs found in the original XC One wheels. This means you get the same large diameter axle to reduce wheel flex and the wide diameter rear wheel pawl carrier to improve torque transmission. And just like the original XC Ones, these babies are hand built and as true as George Washington right out of the box.

On the trails these wheels transformed my ride into a brand new bike (no exaggeration). On fast, twisty singletrack the stiff XC Ones helped compensate for the wide 29er turning radius with laser accurate cornering and control. During test rides I noticed responsive acceleration coming out of sharp turns and even dead stops, leaving my legs fresh and begging for more! Climbing on the lightweight 29″ XC Ones was a breeze and made swoopy descents feel a bit undeserved.

The XC One freehubs produce just enough buzzing to let you know they’re working smoothly but not enough to annoy the crap out of everyone around you. While these wheels are meant for epic XC riding and not FR or DH, mine have remained true even after some serious bumps and bruises at high speed. Small jumps (less than a couple feet or so) felt great on these wheels and produced no noticeable flex.

Thanks to Easton, 29er riders don’t have to settle for heavy, poorly designed wheels any longer. The XC One 29er wheels allow you to reap all the benefits of bigger wheels without many of the hassles you’ve come to expect. Looking for a set of lightweight, dependable, and stiff 29er wheels for racing and epic rides? Look no further than the Easton XC Ones.

Just a while back I reviewed the Easton XC-Ones and gave them a great review. But that got me thinking: I wonder what their all-mountain / light free ride wheels can do? Well I made a quick call, and the nice folks at Easton provided me a test set to do my worst. Ohhh boy I love a challenge, especially when it comes to hitting trails hard (with the bike and not my body)!

Easton’s Havoc all mountain wheelset (MSRP $799.00 USD, $1220.00 CDN), are a ground up design incorporating over-sized bearings and a slick, no tool changing front hub. You can switch between a 9mm QR and 20mm through axle in seconds plus there’s even  a 15mm QR option sold separately. All these options make this wheel set a great investment since you can adapt the wheels to fit whatever bike you ride in the future.

The Havoc wheel set is designed to take abuse while staying light enough to trek around without tiring the rider out. At 1930 grams (170 grams heavier than the 2009 Mavic Crossmax SX set) these are not the lightest on the block but by no means will they slow you down. With a 28mm rim and 24 triple butted steel spokes, these wheels are strong and will stay true for a very long time. Just like the XC One wheels, these babies are hand built using the same sonic truing methods to keep a uniform spoke tension.

So the Easton Havocs finally arrived and I was stoked to see what the big difference was between the Havocs and the XC Ones. The photo on the right shows an XC one front hub followed by the Havoc’s front hub. Side by side you can quickly see the size of the hub on the Havoc is nearly twice in diameter to accommodate the larger bearing set. You’ll also notice that with the design of the Havoc wheels the engineers concentrated on making a very stable and strong structure. These units are meant for some seriously gnarly trails!

Surrounding these wheels with a set of WTB Prowler MX tires (26 x 2.30) and heavy duty tubes took no time at all with very little use of tire irons thanks to the proprietary, extra-wide 28 mm rims. Kelso and Blue Mountain were my trails of choice for putting these wheels through their paces.

Just like its little XC brother, the Havoc wheels were super responsive and nearly silent smooth running, thanks to a good set of bearings and a buttery smooth cassette body. The 24 straight pull spokes under high tension also kept these wheels tracking precisely along the rooted trails. On the tight and twisty trails of Kelso’s Extreme trail, these wheels kept pointing and rolling in whatever direction I commanded without giving a millimeter. Coming off some 6 foot drops I didn’t hear a single complaint from the wheels - no creaking or groaning whatsoever, even after some not-so-perfect landings on a few large rocks.

After putting in several miles I found the Havoc wheels kept rolling along without the annoying munching noises that I typically expect from tired bearings. Even after all this abuse, the wheels stayed true which meant riding skinnies and rock gardens was still as satisfying as when the wheels came out of the box. I even found myself styling when going off jumps and drops, something I don’t normally want to do but I just couldn’t resist with these wheels!

To make a long story short, when it comes time for me to select the best wheel set of 2009, I am going to have a very hard time, especially after testing the Easton AM Havoc wheels. You can find these at most good retailers and if you look, you can get these at a great price. For your hard-earned dollar I would have to say go buy a pair of Easton AM Havocs and you won’t be disappointed.

Specifications from Easton:
Size 26 inch
Weight 1930 Grams
Hub F-AMH, R-AMH
Spokes DT Triple-Butted black (24F  3-Cross, 24R  3-Cross)
Nipples F: Alloy Black, RNDS : Alloy Black, RDS: Alloy Black

Once again a big thank you out to the folks at Easton for sending out the Havoc wheelset for testing.

Quick: What’s painted black, made of aluminum and steel, whisper quiet, and capable of traveling at hyper speeds? If you said the B-2 Stealth Bomber you’re technically correct but it turns out the Easton XC One wheel set is a pretty good answer too.

When you take the Easton XC One wheels out of the box you can’t help but admire the fine machine work that makes up these babies. Easton’s attention to detail really sets the tone: finely machined hubs for weight savings, an alloy cassette body, straight pull spokes for consistent spoke tension, alloy nipples on the non-drive spokes, and 24 double butted spokes for lighter weight. All these features culminate to make a lighter, faster rolling wheel that is stiffer and stays truer longer.  Speaking of tone, these wheels are all hand built and tone tensioned using a sonic testing unit!

Fitting a set of 26 x 2.1 tires onto these rims and placing a SRAM PG-990 cassette (11-34) on the rear, the XC Ones were ready to go. One quick note: don’t use any tools other than proper tire irons and especially avoid metal objects when installing tires because metal tools may damage your rims. Remember to always follow the installation instructions and quick release information provided.

On the trails the Easton XC Ones produce great acceleration from a stop. Putting down the power I really noticed improved forward thrust, which is great for racing. The reduced rotational mass and low wheel flex made these wheels almost feel like they were powering themselves. The low overall weight of this wheel set (about 10% less than competing wheels) also translates into improved quickness in steering. It took me a little while to get used to the ultra-responsiveness and I really had to pay attention to the amount of steering input I placed at the handlebars in the beginning. Easton claims these wheels are 36% stiffer than competing wheel sets and I could certainly feel the difference on the trail.

The only down side to high spoke tension shows up when hitting rocks. I felt every bump the wheels rolled over all the way up to my bars (changing to a carbon bar helped reduce the effect). But I did mention these are Easton’s top shelf racing wheel sets didn’t I? If you’re competing or wanting to go really fast for a long time you’ll have to give up a little on the comfort side of the equation - and for most that’s a tradeoff that’s easy to make.

Another thing I noticed about the XC Ones is how quiet these wheels run which is thanks to super smooth bearings and a virtually silent free hub. These wheels are so quiet that while testing on the trails I actually startled a few wild turkeys. The free hub is suspended by two bearings with 3 pawl fingers which grab the hub, allowing smooth positive engagement of the wheel.

Overall I have to say these are a great set of wheels that will put a smile on your face. I would almost dare to say these wheels will even help you crest most hills faster but then again it’s up to you to pedal. At the very least the XC One wheel set will help reduce the amount of force it takes to get you there.

Specs from Easton:

SUN-Ringlé has be around for a long time now but these days they’re delivering some especially sweet products. Recently the good folks down at SUN-Ringlé sent me perhaps one of their best kept secrets (pssstt - listen up weight weenies). At just 1421 grams for the set (including quick release skewers), the Black Flag Ceramic Diskis a super lightweight MTB wheel set, especially compared to similar Mavic and Easton sets that weigh 1550+ grams.

Looking at these wheels I got all goose-bumpy - well not literally but I don’t know how else to describe the feeling of unboxing such an artfully crafted wheel set. The build quality of the Black Flag wheels is incredible - the spoke line was dead straight (which contributes to a longer lasting wheel build) and all the spokes were tensioned precisely. Overall the Black Flag wheels have relatively high tension at the spokes (though not as high as others like the Easton XC-Ones) which sets the overall feel and performance characteristics of the wheels. Spinning the wheel in free air I could really see how smooth the ceramic bearings were and just how true this wheel set was right out of the box. Can you say butter?

Placing a set of XC tires on the Black Flags was bit of a chore, though that probably had something to do with my tire choice. Other than that installation was a snap - just bolted on my rotors (160mm front and 140mm rear) and a cassette and I was off to the trails.

Talk about lightweight! At first I was a little worried that the Blag Flag wheels were really a set of road wheels in disguise because they felt so light. On the XC trails I was floored at how much faster and how many taller gears I could push with these wheels and I found that I was riding the large front ring a whole lot more than on my typical training ride. Putting the power down, these wheels just went - the low rotational mass combined with the ceramic bearings make for a super fast rolling wheel set. For such a light set of wheels I was impressed by the amount of control these babies offered in tight, twisty turns. I found these wheels to be stiff enough to keep them pointed where I wanted without being so stiff that they knocked my teeth loose.

Overall the Sun-Ringle Black Flag Ceramic wheel set is great for its intended purpose - fast XC trail riding. While you won’t want to use these if you plan on hucking around, the Black Flag wheels are the perfect set to use for race day. If you’re on the heavier side of 180lb these wheels may not be a good fit but running a slightly higher volume tire (2.1″ vs. 1.95″) can give you some added protection against heavy hits. The Black Flags Ceramic wheels are certainly an impressive and lightweight XC wheelset - give them a try!

Cheers!

The Sun-Ringlé Black Flag Ceramic wheel set is sold at most great local bike shops for around $840 MSRP (some dealers may sell for less). Fortunately these wheels are not über-expensive, especially compared to wheel sets with MSRP’s over $1100 for essentially the same thing.

Specifications from Sun-Ringle:

• For XC race conditions
• Black anodized, welded Equalizer 21 rims – disc brake only
• Black anodized Dirty Flea hub set with sealed ceramic bearings
• Hole Count: Front 28 and rear 28
• Wheelsmith high performance spokes – black finish
• Wheelsmith alloy nipples – black ano
• New SUN-Ringle alloy QR with hollow chromoly axles
• 26″ – 559mm
• Weight: 1421g

SUNringlé has done it again, updating and improving the STR8 Track wheel set for those who like to spend time flying through the air as part of their regular riding routine. The STR8 Track wheel set (MSRP $560.00) is just as at home on tight rocky singletrack as it is landing 7 foot+ drops. Having been tested by extreme riders like Cedric Graica you can be sure these wheels can take on anything your trails can deliver. The STR8 Track wheels are not to be confused with a freeride wheel set which would be a little beefier, but for what these have been designed for (all-mountain, heavy trail use), they fit the bill nicely with room to play.

I decided to install these wheels on my 5.5 rig with a Manitou Minute 20mm front fork, and after torquing new disks and installing tires and a fresh cassette, I was off to the trails. For the test ride I stuck with my usual tires (Eskar S-works 2.3) since I already know how the tires behave and I can concentrate on the wheel itself. At 1984 grams per set these are just a touch lighter than the Mavic Crossline (2045g) wheel set I tested last month, however the STR8 Track wheels are 2mm wider and feel more rigid than the Mavic Set. The rigid feeling on these wheels is due to the 32 Wheelsmith DB14 double butted steel spokes plus a much welcomed wider and deeper rim.  Once you  get moving it’s hard to want to stop (even the camera man had a hard time catching me). These wheel are just too much fun!

A great thing I noticed while testing the STR8 Track wheels on the trail is the smoothness of the wheel set - they roll great and do not flex laterally even when tossed into a high G bank turn. Another welcomed attribute is the relatively quiet but positive engagement of the freehub. I have found these wheels light and responsive enough and they work well traveling over skinnies and obstacles without hesitating to change direction quickly. The lacing of the spokes results in great control while the optimized spoke tension helps take the edge off impact when take big hits.

Overall I have to say the SUNringlé STR8 Track wheels are worth every penny - hit your local bike shop and take a look at these, especially if you’re on the north side of 200lbs. Being at that weight myself, (with full gear and water) I know that finding a set of wheels that will withstand serious trail abuse can be difficult. But look no further, these fit the bill and at their cost you can afford a new set of your favorite rubber as well!

Now the Official information from SUNringlé:

Use: All Mountain / Disc
Front Hub: 32 Hole Sunringlé Jumping Flea (Black)
Rear Hub: 32 Hole Sunringlé Dirty Flea (Black)
Rim: Black anodized welded Equalizer, Width: 31mm Disk brake only
Spokes: Wheelsmith DB 14 double butted spokes - black finish
Nipples: Wheelsmith alloy black
Lacing: 3 Cross (Fr/ Rr)
Weight: 1984g

Cheers folks - and remember to keep the rubber side down! Avoid the big trees - they don’t move!

The Mavic Crossline wheelset ($399.00 MSRP) is new for 2009. Mavic released these wheels for those of us who are on a budget but want a true Enduro wheelset. You can buy the wheels as a set or individually but your choice of colors is limited to black, black, or black (though they do have some cool new rim graphics). The wheels come with almost everything you need - a quick release skewer for the rear, rim tape for both wheels, and even a special tool for adjusting the rear hub bearings. Unfortunately the Crossline wheelset doesn’t come with a front quick release so you’ll need to pick up an adapter that sells for about $12 to convert to a 9mm configuration.

Some highlights of the Crossline wheels:

Tough 21mm internal wide rim
28 straight pull, steel spokes
Oversized hubs with large cartridge bearings
A new ITS-4 freewheel. Mavic uses an entirely new transmission with 4 pawls and 4 bearings  to reduce the rotation of the wheel before it engages from 17 degrees down to 7.
Weight: 2045 grams per pair - front wheel: 965 grams, rear wheel: 1080 grams
Disc brake specific profile: no braking surface on the rims
Pinned rim joints
6106 Aluminum
8.5 mm valve hole diameter
QRM+ bearings
Aluminum front and rear axle
Oversized aluminum front and rear bodies
20×92mm front axle (adapters needed)
12×135mm rear axle

I was stoked to try these puppies out on the trails at Kelso Conservation area (one of the stops on the O-Cup DH circuit) and I tried to find some really rough stuff just to see how rugged these wheels really are. Compared to the regular wheel set that I usually ride these were a blast. The first thing I noticed with the Mavic Crosslines is the different sound the freehub makes compared to older versions of Mavic’s product line-up. I was also pleased when pedaling from a stop - there is virtually instant engagement of the gears with little movement of the crank before the cassette grabs the wheel (which is great for very slow speeds when you need to hammer over a log, ride a skinny or slam through a rock garden). I felt very little flex when cornering, even while nailing birms and switchbacks. These wheels track very well and inspire confidence, felling solid beneath the bike.

Although Mavic advertises these as Freeride wheels I would have to call them “light” Freeride/Enduro wheels.  After a few drops (5′ to 7′), table tops, step ups, and rock gardens on an extreme singletrack run I felt pretty confident about the wheels. Despite the thrashing the Crosslines held true with no signs of problems, other than a sight ding (my bad for under-inflating my tires).

The steel spokes on the Mavic Crosslines (and Freeride/Enduro/All-Mountain wheels in general) are a great choice because steel spokes have a higher tolerance for abrasion and will hold up to branches, rocks, and an occasional dropped chain (I don’t use a chain retention device). On this test I even caught a large branch in my rear wheel which ripped the derailleur off without damaging a single spoke - talk about tough!

Overall these wheels are well worth the coin, and I would recommend these to anyone, even to those of us who are on the heavy side. In a time when everyone is watching their well earned dollar these wheels won’t break the bank and are cheap enough that if you do break them you won’t have to give up an arm or a leg to replace them (you probably broke an arm or leg when you broke your wheel anyway so you won’t want to give up another!).

Cheers… Now get outside and hit the trails!

One trend we’ve noticed here at Interbike this year is the proliferation of rim art on both road and mountain wheel sets. There are a ton of smaller companies pushing the idea but even Mavic has a CrossMax SX wheel set decorated with swirly flourishes. Cool idea - but let’s not get too crazy

Most folks may not realize this but Crank Brothers started making wheel sets last year and this year they’ve expanded the line to include All Mountain wheels. The iodine line has a through axle hub and felt super lightweight – the front wheel is just 870g! And like all Crank Brothers products the wheels come in an array of color combinations that allows you to customize your ride.

One interesting thing to note in the photos is the appearance of thicker, colored spokes closest to the hub. These are not spokes in fact they’re elongated nipples (sounds dirty, eh?). The elongated nipples give the bros’ a chance to add a little color around the center of the wheel but they also provide increased strength while shifting weight away from the outside the wheel. This means the wheels feel lighter and spin faster than if the weight of the spokes were evenly distributed toward the rim.

We also got a chance to check out the Cobalt wheels as well and they were even lighter than the Iodines, even with quick release bolts attached! Look for the Iodine wheels to be released in the next few months (they’re not even on the Crank Bros website yet!).